Technology and Communication Vocabulary

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize and use 20 core N4 vocabulary words related to technology, communication, and everyday situations. You will understand how to talk about actions like wrapping, exchanging, and facing, as well as describe danger, causes, and surroundings.

Technology and communication vocabulary in Japanese often overlaps with daily life. Many of these words are used in phone calls, emails, and casual conversation. For example, you might need to say something is "enough" (十分, juubun) or that you were "surprised" (吃驚, bikkuri). Others, like 参る (mairu) and 召し上がる (meshiagaru), are humble or respectful forms used in polite communication.十分吃驚参召

1. Basic Actions and States

• 包む (tsutsumu) — to wrap包

  • Used when wrapping a gift or item.
  • Example: プレゼントを包む。 (Purezento o tsutsumu. — I wrap the present.)包
  包

• 取り替える (torikaeru) — to exchange取替

  • Used for swapping items, like a defective product.
  • Example: 電池を取り替える。 (Denchi o torikaeru. — I exchange the battery.)電池取替
  取替電池

• 合う (au) — to fit, suit合

  • Can mean physical fit or personal compatibility.
  • Example: この靴が合う。 (Kono kutsu ga au. — These shoes fit.)靴合
  合靴

• 向かう (mukau) — to face向

  • Used for direction or heading somewhere.
  • Example: 駅に向かう。 (Eki ni mukau. — I head toward the station.)駅向
  向駅

2. People and Relationships

• 医者 (isha) — doctor医者

  • Standard word for medical doctor.
  • Example: 医者に行く。 (Isha ni iku. — I go to the doctor.)医者行
  医者行

• 君 (kimi) — you (informal); suffix for young male (familiar)君

  • Used among friends or by superiors to subordinates. Be careful—can sound condescending if used with strangers.
  • Example: 君の名前は？ (Kimi no namae wa? — What's your name?)君名前
  • As a suffix: 田中君 (Tanaka-kun — young Mr. Tanaka)田中君
  君名前田中

3. Abstract Concepts

• 十分 (juubun) — enough十分

  • Indicates sufficiency.
  • Example: 時間は十分だ。 (Jikan wa juubun da. — Time is enough.)時間十分
  十分時間

• 卒業 (sotsugyou) — graduation卒業

  • Used for school or course completion.
  • Example: 大学を卒業する。 (Daigaku o sotsugyou suru. — I graduate from university.)大学卒業
  卒業大学

• 危険 (kiken) — danger危険

  • Warning or risky situation.
  • Example: 危険な場所。 (Kiken na basho. — Dangerous place.)危険場所
  危険場所

• 原因 (gen'in) — source, cause原因

  • Used in explanations.
  • Example: 事故の原因。 (Jiko no gen'in. — Cause of the accident.)事故原因
  原因事故

• 厳しい (kibishii) — strict厳

  • Describes rules, teachers, or conditions.
  • Example: 先生が厳しい。 (Sensei ga kibishii. — The teacher is strict.)先生厳
  厳先生

4. Polite and Humble Forms (Communication)

• 参る (mairu) — to go, to come (humble form)参

  • Used when speaking humbly about yourself or your group.
  • Example: すぐ参ります。 (Sugu mairimasu. — I will come right away.)参
  参

• 召し上がる (meshiagaru) — to eat (respectful)召上

  • Used when speaking about someone else eating.
  • Example: どうぞ召し上がってください。 (Douzo meshiagatte kudasai. — Please eat.)召上
  召上

5. Nature and Surroundings

• 台風 (taifuu) — typhoon台風

  • Common weather event in Japan.
  • Example: 台風が来る。 (Taifuu ga kuru. — A typhoon is coming.)台風来
  台風来

• 周り (mawari) — surroundings周

  • Refers to the area around something.
  • Example: 周りを見る。 (Mawari o miru. — I look around.)周見
  周見

6. Food and Taste

• 味 (aji) — taste, flavor味

  • General word for taste.
  • Example: この味が好き。 (Kono aji ga suki. — I like this flavor.)味好
  味好

• 味噌 (miso) — bean paste味噌

  • Key ingredient in miso soup.
  • Example: 味噌汁を飲む。 (Miso shiru o nomu. — I drink miso soup.)味噌汁飲
  味噌汁飲

• 品物 (shinamono) — goods品物

  • Items for sale or possession.
  • Example: 品物を選ぶ。 (Shinamono o erabu. — I choose goods.)品物選
  品物選

7. Surprise and Emotion

• 吃驚 (bikkuri) — be surprised
  • Often written in hiragana: びっくり.
  • Example: びっくりした！ (Bikkuri shita! — I was surprised!)
  吃驚

• Mixing 君 (kimi) with 君 (kun) — The same kanji can mean "you" (informal) or be a suffix for young males. Context matters. If you call a stranger "kimi," it can be rude. Use あなた (anata) or their name instead.君
• Confusing 十分 (juubun, enough) with 十分 (juppun, ten minutes) — Same kanji, different readings. Pay attention to context: 十分な時間 (juubun na jikan, enough time) vs. 十分間 (juppunkan, ten minutes).十分時間
• Using 参る (mairu) for yourself but 召し上がる (meshiagaru) for others — These are opposite in politeness. 参る is humble (for you/your group), 召し上がる is respectful (for others). Don't swap them.参召上

Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the lesson:

1. プレゼントを＿＿＿＿。 (Purezento o ______. — I wrap the present.)
   Answer: 包む (tsutsumu)包

   包

2. この靴が＿＿＿＿。 (Kono kutsu ga ______. — These shoes fit.)
   Answer: 合う (au)靴合

   靴合

3. ＿＿＿＿な場所。 (______ na basho. — Dangerous place.)
   Answer: 危険 (kiken)場所危険

   場所危険

4. ＿＿＿＿を調べる。 (______ o shiraberu. — Investigate the cause.)
   Answer: 原因 (gen'in)調原因

   調原因

5. ＿＿＿＿した！ (______ shita! — I was surprised!)
   Answer: 吃驚 (bikkuri) or びっくり吃驚

   吃驚

You've learned 20 essential N4 vocabulary words covering wrapping, exchanging, danger, cause, strictness, polite forms, nature, taste, and surprise. Practice using them in sentences about daily life—like talking about a typhoon, exchanging a phone, or saying you were surprised.

Next step: Try writing 3 sentences using 包む, 合う, and 召し上がる. Then move on to the next lesson on "Health and Body Vocabulary" to expand your communication skills further.包合召上